Dried nettle is a type of the medicinal herb from which moisture has been removed by chemical or natural means for the purpose of increasing storage life. Although the entire nettle plant is used, herbalists and other believers in all natural medicine tend to prefer dried nettle leaves for making tinctures, extracts and infusions, which are teas. Other names by which this botanical is known and sold include stinging nettle and common nettle. When the herb is bought in bulk, it is almost always the dried leaves that are purchased.
There are many medicinal uses of nettle: it promotes the flow of urine as well as the menstrual flow, it aids in the expulsion of gravel from the bladder, and it kills and expels parasitic worms. Dried nettle infusion is one of the best remedies for diarrhea and should be used with great caution by people who have weak digestion. It acts as a wonderful expectorant when fighting off colds or influenza by helping to cleanse the lungs of phlegm. It should not, however, be relied upon singly to treat cases of bronchitis or pneumonia.
Hemorrhoids, inflammation of the kidneys, eczema and chronic rheumatism also are alleviated by drinking dried nettle infusion in small doses throughout the day. Dried nettle is not only used in the all-natural medical treatment of internal health disorders but also in the treatment of external problems. A strong nettle leaf infusion can serve as a most effective conditioner for the hair, helping it to retain its natural color and luster when used as a final rinse. If dried nettle leaves are steeped or very gently simmered in white vinegar, they are very effective at treating dandruff. Boiled nettle leaves have been successfully employed externally to help arrest hemorrhage of any part of the body.
Some caution should be taken when one is gathering fresh nettle leaves to dry them for future use, because the plant, which is a weed, can slightly sting the hands. It also has sharp spurs that can cause severe irritation and discomfort when touched, so it is usually a good idea for one to wear garden gloves when gathering any part of the plant. Dried nettle leaves are frequently part of herbal formulas used to treat asthma and anemia because they are very rich in iron, potassium and silicon. The nutrients abundantly available in nettle leaves make this plant a choice botanical for herbal formulas used to purify and nourish the blood.
